9th International AIDS Conference Berlin, Germany — June 6-11, 1993

Int Conf AIDS 1993 Jun 6-11; 9:125 (abstract no. WS-D22-6)
Gilmore N, Jurgens R, Somerville MA, Almedal C; McGill Centre for Medicine, Ethics and Law, Montreal, Canada.

OBJECTIVE: To show that effective public health interventions and efforts to promote and protect human rights, in the context of HIV/AIDS and of drug use, are compatible and mutually reinforcing.

METHODS: Public health interventions and efforts to promote and protect human rights, applicable to HIV/AIDS and to drug use, were identified and analyzed for their compatibility, similarities and inter-dependence.

RESULTS: Public health interventions and human rights efforts were analyzed in relation to the availability of explicit information, peer education, and risk-reducing equipment (e.g., condoms, needles, gloves); access to and quality of treatment; breaches of privacy or confidentiality; research; vulnerable populations; co-morbidity and incompetence; housing; mobility; and discrimination. Coercive or repressive public health interventions often threaten or abuse human rights, and are counter-productive or jeopardize public health goals. On the other hand, public health interventions which increase the autonomy and decrease the vulnerability of people reinforce respect for human rights, and are compatible with efforts to promote and protect human rights. Efforts to promote and protect human rights related to HIV/AIDS and to drug use facilitate and reinforce relevant public health interventions, and they have many features in common with these interventions. Often, their goals, methods or outcomes are similar.

CONCLUSION: In the context of HIV/AIDS and of drug use, public health interventions and efforts to promote and protect human rights have been found to be compatible, mutually reinforcing and inter-dependent. Neglecting or abusing human rights interferes with or limits public health interventions whereas promoting and protecting human rights strengthens public health interventions. Coercive or repressive public health interventions threaten or abuse human rights whereas interventions which promote people's autonomy and decrease their vulnerability strengthen human rights.

Copyright © 1993 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.